Two Madeiran researchers have taken part in an international maritime archaeology expedition investigating the remains of an ancient harbour complex on the Greek island of Aegina.
Marco Freitas and Joana Santos, from the Centre for Modern Archaeology Studies (CEAM), joined the latest phase of the Aigina Harbour City Project during August, following an invitation from the team leading the research.
This year’s work concentrated primarily on producing topographical records of submerged archaeological structures at Aegina’s naval harbour, Kolona Bay and the South Quarry.
The Madeiran researchers participated in several aspects of the fieldwork, including the documentation and investigation of archaeological remains, CEAM said in a statement.
The expedition was led by Kalioppi Baika, a professor at Aix-Marseille University and coordinator of UNESCO’s UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology, together with Despoina Koutsoumba, an archaeologist from the Greek Ministry of Culture’s Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities.
The Aigina Harbour City Project is a long-term research programme studying the ancient port complex of Aegina, which was one of the most important maritime cities in the Aegean Sea during the Archaic and Classical periods.
Remains at the site include harbour infrastructure, military installations, defensive systems and other coastal structures dating from the eighth century BC through to the Byzantine period.
The project brings together the French School at Athens, the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities and Aix-Marseille University, alongside international partners connected to the UNESCO Chair in Maritime and Coastal Archaeology.
According to CEAM, the involvement of Madeiran researchers is expected to continue during future expeditions, a welcome recognition of the Region’s growing contribution to international archaeological research.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM Archive
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